Supporting composers, JAM perform Mealor and more

JAM (the John Armitage Memorial) continues its commitment to contemporary composers when it returns to London with a performance of Paul Mealor's oratorio The Farthest Shore which is being performed alongside music by Phillip Cooke and a group of new pieces from JAM's most recent Call for Music. The five composers involved, Michael Bonaventure, William Cole, Will Handysides, Daniel Saleeb and Benjamin Woodgates all submit music to JAM in response to their call. The works will be performed on 20 March 2014 at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street by the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, (Cambridge), Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir, Cumnor House Boys' Choir, Claire Seaton (soprano), Aidan Smith, (baritone), Onyx Brass and Simon Hogan (organ), conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. 

Each year JAM invites composers to submit works to the Call for Music and performs a selection of the works during the year. JAM is remarkably faithful to its composers. Paul Mealor submitted to JAM's Call for Music in 2002 and 2004, JAM commissioned him when they performed As Sleeps the Crimson Petal on its Scottish tour in 2010. It one of these performances, heard by the Duchess of Cambridge, which led to Mealor's commission Ubi Caritas for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Mealor's The Farthest Shore, a remarkable dramatic oratorio compressed into 40 minutes was premiered by JAM last year. The work uses the full range of spaces available in St Bride's Church (see my review of last year's performance)

Phillip Cooke submitted work to JAM's Call for Music in 2010. His Invocation was performed in 2010 and on tour to Scotland in 2011. Cooke, now working alongside Mealor at Aberdeen University, had The Hazel Wood commissioned by JAM for its 2013 Scottish tour. The work features on the new CD of Cooke's music recorded by the Choir of Selwyn College and Onyx Brass, conducted by Sarah Macdonald. The Hazel Wood will be receiving its English premiere at the concert on 20 March 2014 in St. Bride's Church.

Further information from the JAM website.